LONDON, FRANKFURT, Germany and NEW YORK, Jan. 10, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- BNY Mellon has been appointed by Covestro AG as depositary bank for its sponsored American depositary receipt (ADR) program, replacing previously unsponsored facilities. The ADRs will continue to trade on the U.S. over-the-counter market under the symbol "COVTY."

Headquartered in Germany, Covestro is among the world's largest polymer companies, with sales of EUR 12.1 billion in 2015. The company focuses on the manufacture of high-tech polymer materials and the development of innovative solutions for products used in many areas of daily life. Its products are used in the automotive, electrical and electronics, construction and sports and leisure industries. Formerly Bayer MaterialScience, Covestro has 30 production facilities worldwide and employed approximately 15,800 people as of year-end 2015.

"The U.S. is a crucial strategic market for Covestro, both operationally as well as in terms of our investor base. With the conversion to a sponsored Level I ADR program, we aim to facilitate access to the stock for global investors and further broaden our shareholder base in the long term," said Frank H. Lutz, CFO of Covestro. "It also enables us to roll out our Employee Share Program, Covestment, for our U.S. colleagues."

"Germany continues to be an important market for U.S. investors," said Christopher M. Kearns, CEO of BNY Mellon's Depositary Receipts business. "We look forward to working closely with Covestro and providing the resources and market expertise to help the company take its new sponsored DR to the next level."

Covestro is the latest global firm to convert from an unsponsored to a sponsored depositary receipt program, which can add value in terms of enhanced visibility, liquidity, and other benefits from being serviced by a single depositary bank. Over the last three years, 21 companies from a dozen countries with unsponsored programs have appointed BNY Mellon as their sponsored depositary.1

BNY Mellon acts as depositary for more than 2,600 American and global depositary receipt programs as of Sept. 30, 2016. Acting in partnership with leading companies from over 65 countries, BNY Mellon is committed to helping securities issuers access the world's rapidly evolving financial markets and delivers a comprehensive suite of depositary receipt services. Learn more at www.bnymellon.com/dr.

BNY Mellon is a global investments company dedicated to helping its clients manage and service their financial assets throughout the investment lifecycle. Whether providing financial services for institutions, corporations or individual investors, BNY Mellon delivers informed investment management and investment services in 35 countries and more than 100 markets. As of Sept. 30, 2016, BNY Mellon had $30.5 trillion in assets under custody and/or administration, and $1.72 trillion in assets under management. BNY Mellon can act as a single point of contact for clients looking to create, trade, hold, manage, service, distribute or restructure investments. BNY Mellon is the corporate brand of The Bank of New York Mellon Corporation (NYSE: BK). Learn more at bnymellon.com. Follow us on Twitter @BNYMellon or visit our newsroom at bnymellon.com/newsroom for the latest company news.

This release is for informational purposes only. BNY Mellon provides no advice nor recommendation or endorsement with respect to any company or securities. Nothing herein shall be deemed to constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy securities. Depositary Receipts: Not FDIC, State or Federal Agency Insured; May Lose Value; No Bank, State or Federal Agency Guarantee. BNY Mellon provides no advice nor recommendations or endorsement with respect to any company, security or products based on any index licensed by BNY Mellon, and we make no representation regarding the advisability of investing in the same.